UN Report Accuses Bangladesh's Former Regime of Crimes Against Humanity During 2024 Protests

The United Nations (UN) accused the former regime in Bangladesh on Wednesday, February 12, of committing crimes against humanity during the crackdown on protests in the summer of 2024. A report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) cites testimonies and evidence, indicating a policy to violently suppress anti-government protesters. The report estimates up to 1,400 deaths between July 1 and August 15, with security forces responsible for the majority. The OHCHR also implicates the former government of Sheikh Hasina, security services, and elements associated with the Awami League. Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated the crackdown was a calculated strategy to retain power. Odhikar, a human rights organization, reported a dozen deaths in custody since the summer, alleging torture and shootings. A transitional government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is in place until elections in late 2025 or early 2026. The OHCHR sent a team to investigate the repression in September 2024.